The data is in - Strava is wrecking the sport

HITHEREYOU wrote:

LateRunnerPhil wrote:

I actually feel sorry for randomly taking some useless segments while I'm on a tempo run or Fartlek. The people who get the segments are usually quite bad at racing, but they dedicate an entire run (or multiple) just to get a segment in their area. For some it's their sole reason to be on Strava, they wanna show off some CRs to their friends.

They are essentially doing random time trials of random distances, and any decent runner knows when someone just got a KOM by looking at the associated run. Usually starts with 10 min warm-up, 10 min rest, then segment, then rest and CD. Sometimes 2 segments in one run if they are close.

Well whatever gets people active I guess..

Sorry Phil, but you come across as a complete tool in this post.

Dude, it goes well beyond this post...

Training aside, the "If it's not on Strava it didn't happen" mentality can negatively affect race times. For example, you'll see runners using their watches in 800m or 1500m/mile races, losing large fractions of seconds by having their arms in a position to push the Start button instead of propelling their body forward, then of course letting up too early at the finish line to reach for the Stop button.

I like being able to see how elite distance runners train. What I've seen on Strava has reinforced the idea that it's mostly natural talent, for they train fairly conservatively (only easy runs for weeks or months) then pop monster workouts/races.

I was noticing some odd Strava times for track workouts where it was clearly the guy was doing 200s in 38-39, but the pace indicator showed mile paces of 4:51 and the like for those 200s. This might have been due to inaccurate Garmin readings of the 200 as .13M or the like.

It's true that getting on Strava, it is tempting to go for the likes and embarrassing to have a slow average pace, so that you're less inclined to run slow recovery miles or even to start slowly and then pick it up as you warm up. On the other hand, too many of my miles were slow before and I think that once I adjust to the heat and the faster averages, I'll be a better runner. So, I'm definitely guilty of a bit of this but it has forced me to do some more work to warm up in the morning before starting out on a run instead of just heading out creaky and starting with miles of 10:45 and 8:40 or so, as I often used to do, before running the rest of the way at 7-7:30.

I'm not concerned about what others may think of my pace, so I'm okay with running easy miles slow (my fast miles are slow too, anyway).

What bothered me and made me push harder than I should some days was Strava telling me I had run a particular route slower than previously. That feature encourages one to constantly try to be faster, I think. It could be useful to compare workouts and track your fitness, but I think it's detrimental having that comparison every single run.

Anyway, don't pay much attention to it anymore.

Wildhorse wrote:

What bothered me and made me push harder than I should some days was Strava telling me I had run a particular route slower than previously. That feature encourages one to constantly try to be faster, I think. It could be useful to compare workouts and track your fitness, but I think it's detrimental having that comparison every single run.

Funnily enough that feature has now gone behind the subscription paywall! I was actually pleased to see it was gone for the very reason you just stated...

Jamin- which pros do this? A lot of the pros I follow seem to train pretty hard. Can't think of one example of someone having a "monster race" off strictly months of easy runs

Strava or not, too many people are using "easy days easy" as a crutch to be lazy / run with girls / run slow af and call it training. Then those people get pissy when they see people actually training and putting in work. Recovery days post workout at super easy pace are one thing but if you're a decent runner and doing every single day at 7:30-8min pace then the odds are you just don't feel like actually working hard.

Newsflash: Training is allowed to be hard!

I'd rather train my butt off and take chances and fall flat then train like a wimp and win my local age group ....

I have the same issue, but for distance not pace. I would always be looking to see where I was in relation to others on the leaderboard regarding the amount of miles I ran. I might take a day for cross training (I am 44 with a long injury history) or taking a day off. I would always feel guilty, like I was not doing enough instead of knowing it was what I needed.

Overall Strava can be a good system, but you have to have the right mindset to not let it rule you

race on RACE day wrote:

Most don't have the discipline to run easy and post it on Strava. It's like all the runners now feel insecure about their fitness so they have to go prove it every run.

This isn't a Stava problem. This is an idiot problem.

I run 16:xx/34:xx/1:16 and a lot of my daily running is slower than 8:00/mile. Every step goes on Strava and it is never occurred to me to run one iota harder "for likes."

Most people in my network on Strava like everything they see, or they like specific workouts and races. The pace of boring daily runs has no influence on "likes" and even if it did, who cares?

Insecure idiots have been running hard when they think someone is watching since long before Strava.

I loved running way more when I didn't know how others around me trained.

I remember when 8 miles was a SUPER long run - back when I started running. Finishing that made me feel amazing. I couldn't imagine starting running now with Strava, and every single person on your feed is way better than you. I had terribly slow progress. I jogged 9:00 miles for a couple years before I figured out how to train properly. I only stuck with it because I saw steady improvement and enjoyed "just getting out there". Racing has always been competitive, but now training is super competitive. It's impossible not to compare your running to other people's - people you don't even know. We should be comparing our running to our running. Are things going well week to week or not? Not focusing on other people's running. It leads nowhere but to envy and distraction. I used to pour over my run log and try to find patterns in the data. Now I pour over my strava feed and look for reasons why other people's workouts were faster than they should've been (downhill, into the wind, overly rested, etc) I do workouts sometimes too hard because I'm worried that taking one a bit slower than normal may make me look I'm going backwards. It's hard to keep a good training mindset when you are focusing so much on what other people think of your workouts. Hell, the fact that people NAME their workout on strava - usually something clever or interesting - is a sign that the are insecure about just leaving the default name up. People now post memes and stuff to their run.

Running is now an extension of our social image, rather than a much needed escape from the trappings of our overly connected world.

I been kicking all your asses for years and years now, I train like a champion. No watch, no strava, no music to make the miles go by quicker. All that matters is your place on raceday, everything else is just extraneous horseshit. I have a paper notebook where I write down what I did each day.

You won't find me posting instagram or facebook. You'll see me pull up in my car at the race, kick all your asses and then get back in the car and drive away. Windows will be open, there will be music coming from the car loudly at this time.

The problem is you're soft, and you're a fanatical phone addict. Also your posture is bad much of the time.

I don't know whether it is wrecking the sport -- we've always had idiots in our midst -- but I don't see the point of uploading workouts to Strava. I know how far and how fast I ran, because my watch tells me. I don't need to show it to anyone else, and I don't need a community of runners sharing their workouts to motivate me.

I can see that it is a useful platform for proving you have completed a challenging event solo, like climbing a mountain or achieving a FKT on some trail. I don't find any other value to it.

Strava is great. I live in a big city and have plenty of bored Olympic level (have competed in one of the last few games or would have gone this year) T&F athletes living near by that can't go away for training camps anymore.

I love when they go after the good segments at a pace no normal hobbyjogger can sustain, just for fun.

As for how fast people run their easy runs? why you mad bro? watching my competitors fail brings me joy.

I like watching them burn out and ask themselves why can't I run as fast as deranged dad?

I agree with a lot of this. So many poorly trained runners out there, it actually makes me want to get into coaching.

The sad thing is that in my area the local university coach trains hobby joggers for a side hustle fee. He develops a macro cycle plan for them and holds once a week interval sessions at the track. He has these poor fools doing intervals close to their mile race pace, its absolutely insane. Then they run their easy runs faster than I do and none of them have actually beat me in a race. I've never looked up the university performance but they must suck.

If you run with a cell phone or GPS watch, you're not even part of the sport.

Most of my friends tell me if I don’t run under 8:00/mi pace I shouldn’t even have walked out the door. It’s just interesting. Im a 27:38/16:30/9:20 guy and I’ll run anywhere from 7:05-8:20/mi. Most people who pound the same paces everyday are training at like 80-85% as opposed to 70-75% which leads to their burnout. I did that last year on 70 mpw and had tons of PR’s but was burnt to a crisp. Strava makes everyone look good in the summer but then they don’t improve in the fall. I have yet to experience as I have improved every year but it is interesting. I like this thread.

Bad Wigins wrote:

If you run with a cell phone or GPS watch, you're not even part of the sport.

Honest question Bad, do you run?

I average 40-50 kudos a run.

I am not super fast, I run 14:40 in the 5k, and I run very easy on easy days.

The temptation to run faster on easy days for strava has never been there for me.

In fact, I take great joy in slogging through a recovery run or getting some extra miles in with my girlfriend and post a run a 8:20 pace. Then the next day posting a tempo at 5:30 pace. I like that, I really do. Train hard, recover easyyyyyyy.